Chapter 2

Chapter 2

That night, Qi Yu was exceptionally cruel.

It wasn’t the first time he had done such things. He enjoyed humiliating me, relished in making me feel ashamed. He made sure everyone knew of the sordid nature of our relationship, yet he never deigned to give me a proper title. In the three years since I entered the palace, the servants didn’t even know how to address me, settling on the ambiguous title of “Miss He.”

No one took me seriously. The concubines of the Harem were a jealous lot, and Qi Yu gave them every reason to hate me without giving me the means to protect myself. I had no status and no one to back me up; anyone felt bold enough to bully me a little, venting their spite for their own lack of favor on me.

Every day in the palace was bleak and hopeless. The maids Qi Yu sent my way eventually left in twos and threes to serve other concubines. After all, my quarters were even more shunned than the Cold Palace.

Changying was the only one among those Qi Yu sent who was willing to stay.

He was three years older than me and was also a soul acquainted with grief. When he was a child, a flood had ravaged his hometown, and he was separated from his family while fleeing. A child of five or six, born into a time of natural disasters and chaos, he had entered the palace to become a eunuch just for a bowl of watery porridge to fill his stomach.

“Changying, why are you staying here to suffer with me?”

“Within these four-walled palace grounds, where is there a life that isn’t bitter?”

“Changying, will you eventually come to despise me too?”

“When has Miss He ever despised me?”

“Changying, what do you do when you’re unhappy?”

“I hide away and have a good cry.”

“You cry too?”

“Naturally… but if Miss He wishes to cry, you needn’t hide. I will watch the door for you and let no one in.”

“Changying, they didn’t give us any charcoal again this month.”

“Don’t be afraid, Miss He. You can have my outer coat.”

“But what about you?”

“I am a man. Men have more natural body heat.”

“If that’s the case, then… hold me.”

“Miss He…”

“Can you call me Huai’an?”

“Huai’an!”

…

I never felt that Qi Yu forcing me to marry Changying was a humiliation, for I truly loved him.

When Qi Yu finally let me go, the sky was just beginning to pale. The palace servants were starting their daily routines. Dragging my exhausted body and wearing the bright red wedding robes, I trudged back amidst a chorus of idle gossip.

My quarters were located in the most inconspicuous corner of the entire imperial palace. It was said that a maid once tried and failed to win the Emperor’s favor; in her despair, she hanged herself from the rafters.

This wasn’t a major event, as people died in the palace every day. However, because the location was so remote, the maid’s body wasn’t discovered until long after she had passed. Her remains were in a horrific state, which drove the young girl sent to clean the room mad. Since then, no one lived in this side wing.

Qi Yu had made me live here on purpose. He knew it was remote and dilapidated, and he knew the gruesome legend; he simply didn’t want me to have a moment’s peace.

Yet now, that side wing that made others pale at the mere mention of it was hung with orange lanterns. In the dim light of the early morning, the warm glow made the small house appear suddenly cozy.

I knew those lanterns had cost Changying nearly half a year’s worth of his monthly stipend.

“They’re just bullies-how could it possibly cost that much? Go and return them. I don’t need lanterns or wedding robes. We can just share that jar of Peach Blossom Wine my mother left for me.”

“Since I am marrying you once, it should be grand. It’s a pity I cannot give you a ten-mile red dowry or the traditional three letters and six rites. Huai’an, thank you for still being willing to marry me.”

Changying was always willing to give me his best, yet I had failed him on our wedding night.

“Are you cold? Let’s go inside. We have charcoal today; the room is very warm.”

A cloak was draped over my shoulders. Changying took my hand, the tip of his nose red from the cold.

“Have you been waiting here this whole time?” I asked him.

Changying shook his head. “I was happy yesterday and drank a bit too much, so I fell asleep inside. I only just woke up. I realized it would be cold when you returned, so I lit the charcoal and came out to wait for you.”

He was lying. His body was so cold, and even the cloak he had been holding in his arms to keep warm was chilled through.

My nose twitched, but I didn’t expose his lie.

“Let’s go in then. Let’s not let the charcoal in the room go to waste.”